Travellers thought by police to be French have pitched up at the north edge of Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage.

The travellers arrived at some point over the weekend, and are encamped on the grassy area off the corner of Chells Way and Fairlands Way, near the Chells Way Surgery.

A passer-by reported seeing Irish number plates on some of the vehicles. Police told the Comet that the travellers were ‘neither Irish nor English – maybe French’, and not the same group who were next to TK Maxx on Thursday.

A force spokeswoman said: “The land’s owned by Stevenage Borough Council, so we’re just getting in touch with them to find out what their plans are.”

A Stevenage Borough Council spokesman said at 12.45pm: “We are aware of the travellers in Chells Way and have served them with a 24-hour notice asking them to move on as they are on public land.”

Travellers also set up camp in the park in February, moving on after bailiffs employed by the council served notice.